Bag-holding table



F. L. CUPPLES. BAG HOLDING TABLE APPLICATION FILED- MAY 12, I922.

IASLWED Patented Oct. 10, 1922.

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FRANK L. CUPPLES, OF NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS.

BAG-HOLDING TABLE.

Application filed May 12,

ing Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a laundry appliance for use in assorting articles received bya laundry and assembling the same in a net bag in which the articles are confined While being washed. 1 j j The object of the invention is to provide an appliance for this purpose adapted tolbe conveniently and rapidly operated.

The inventionis embodied in the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,-

Figure 1 isa top plan view of a laundry table embodying he invention, the slide hereinafter described being retracted.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the slide projected.

Figure 5 shows in perspective and detached from the table the fixed anchoring means hereinafter described.

Figure 6 shows in perspective and detached from the table, the bag-opener hereinafter described.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, 12 represents the substantially horizontaltop of a table supported by legs 13; In the top 12 is formed a bag-receiving opening 14:, preferably rectangular, the forward edge 'of the opening being in close proximity to the forward edge of the top, this being the edge opposite the usual upright back board 15 provided with tag-supporting hooks 16. The station of an operator using the table is at the forward edge of the top.

The table is provided with fixed bag-anchoring means projecting above the top at the forward edge of the opening 14, said means being preferably embodied in an up standing plate 17 adapted to be attached, as by screws 18, to a portion of the table, and an ear or flange 19 arranged at an angle with the plate and projecting at its ends 1922. Serial No. 560,271.

from the ends of the plate to form hooks 19. A portlon ofthe mouth of a net bag 20 may be conveniently engaged with the said anchoring'means, said portion being interengaged with the flange 19 and its hooks by a suitable manipulation of the bag. The opening 1 1 is near the forward edge of the top, and the topis extended from the inner edge of the openlng to provide a guide-holdmg portion between the opening and the rear edge of the .top. To said guide-holding portion are attached fixed guides 22. 21

represents a slide movable in the guides 22,

toward and from the fixed anchoring means,

and provided with movable bag-engaging means, projecting upward through the opening 14 and adapted to engage another portion of the bag mouth. spring connecting the slide of the table and adapted to automatically retract the slide from. the fixed anchoring means and thereby distend the mouth of the bag 20.

28 represents a I prefer to embody said movable bagengaging means in an upstanding plate 22 fixed in any "suitable way to the forward end of the slide and projecting through the openmg, and an ear or flange-23 arranged at an angle with the plate 22 and projecting at its ends from the ends of the plateto form hooks 23*. Another portion of the mouth of the bag may be conveniently engaged with said engaging means, said portion being interengaged with the flange 23 and its hooks by a suitable manipulation of the bag.

The operation may be as follows: The

operator firstengages a portion of the bag mouth with the movable engaging means,

the latter being held in a retracted position by the spring 28. The operator by aforward pull on the bag moves the slide forward against'the stress of the spring and engages another portion of the bag mouth with the fixed anchoring means. When the engaged bag is released by the operator the spring automatically retracts the slide 21 so that the mouth of the bag is distended and securely held while articles on the table top are dropped into the bag. When the bag is charged, the operator pulls the slide forward and disengages the bag from the engaging means on' the slide and from the fixed anchoring means, and removes and closes the bag, the slide being retracted by the spring when the bag is disengaged. It is obvious that the operator may first engage with a fixed part 75 the bag with the fixed anchoring means and then pull the slide forward and hold it while engaging the bag with the engaging means carried by the slide.

I prefer to provide the table with two openings let of different sizes, located near opposite ends of the table, as shown by Figure 1, anchoring means and a slide having movable bag-engaging means being associated with each opening. The openings are spaced apart to provide a sufficient goods supporting area between the openings.

It is obvious that a weight may be substituted for-the spring as an equivalent means for retracting the slide and automatically opening the bag, the spring, or a weight connected with-the slide by a cord, running on a pulley supported by the table and acting to exert a yielding'pull on the slide, constitutin a yielding means adapted to permit a forward movement of the slide toward the anchoring means and to act automatically to cause the distention of the bag mouth.

The guide-holding portion of the top between the rear edge of the opening, and the rear edge of the top, not only supports the slide guides 22, but also forms a part of the goods-supporting area of the table.

I claim:

A bag-holding table comprising a substantially horizontal top having an opening near its forward edge, and extended from the inner edge of the opening to provide a guide holding portion between the o Jening and the rear edge of the top, guides iixed to said portion, fixed bag-anchoring means projecting above the top at the forward edge of the opening, and adapted to engage a portion of a bag mouth, and a slide movable in said guides toward and from the anchoring means, and provided with movable bagengaging means, adapted to engage another portion of the bag mouth, and projecting through the opening and above the top, the said top presenting a goods-supporting area which includes said guide-holding portion.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

FRANK L. CUPPLES. 

